Continuing parent firm Gilead’s busy deal-making year in immuno-oncology, Kite gets option rights to new targets. Boehringer teams with Israel’s BiomX in IBD research.

FDA's Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation Devices Panel had planned to consider Vertiflex's PMA for its Superion interspinous spacer device on Dec. 12, but the agency postponed the meeting to Feb. 20 give it more time to review device information.

FDA’s Orthopaedic and Rehabilitation Devices Panel will meet in December to consider Vertiflex’s submission to support approval of the Superion interspinous spacer to treat moderate lumbar spinal stenosis.

The prospective medical device tax, the continuing decline of venture investing, pricing challenges, austerity measures in Europe, and other headwinds continued to push against the medtech industry in 2012. But emerging clinical and geographic markets, along with an active M&A market, are providing the industry with some momentum going into 2013.